Italy U21 squad: Baldini calls Camarda, leaves Esposito for senior team | OneFootball

New Italy Under-21 coach Silvio Baldini named his squad for the opening European Championship qualifiers, including Francesco Camarda, but Francesco Pio Esposito might be ready for the senior team.

It has been a transformative summer for the Nazionale at various levels, with new coaches on both main benches.

Baldini named his first call-ups for the European Championship qualifiers building up to the tournament in Albania and Serbia in 2027.

FLORENCE – JANUARY 29: Silvio Baldini during the “Panchina d’Oro” award season 2022/2023 at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on January 29, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

They will open their campaign against Montenegro in Spezia on Friday September 5, then visit North Macedonia in Bitola on Tuesday September 9.

Among the new names are Milan-owned striker Camarda, who is still only 17 and already in the Under-21 squad following his loan move to Lecce.

Notably, Inter striker Francesco Pio Esposito is not included, prompting suggestions he will instead be bumped up to Gennaro Gattuso’s senior team instead for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

FERRARA, ITALY – MARCH 26: Francesco Pio Esposito of Italy U21 during the UEFA Under21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy U21 and Turkey U21 at Stadio Paolo Mazza on March 26, 2024 in Ferrara, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Italy Under-21 squad

Goalkeepers: Diego Mascardi (Spezia), Edoardo Motta (Reggiana), Lapo Nava (Cremonese)

Defenders: Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Fabio Chiarodia (Borussia Monchengladbach), Pietro Comuzzo (Fiorentina), Riyad Idrissi (Cagliari), Michael Kayode (Brentford), Filippo Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Luca Marianucci (Napoli), Brando Moruzzi (Empoli), Marco Palestra (Cagliari)

Midfielders: Lorenzo Amatucci (Las Palmas), Tommaso Berti (Cesena), Matteo Dagasso (Pescara), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Cher Ndour (Fiorentina), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma)

Forwards: Francesco Camarda (Lecce), Luigi Cherubini (Sampdoria), Seydou Fini (Genoa), Luca Koleosho (Espanyol), Simone Pafundi (Sampdoria), Antonio Raimondo (Frosinone), Lorenzo Venturino (Genoa)